Air inflated bladder



Aug. 16, 1932. w A KN 1,872,459

AIR INFLATED BLADDER Filed April 19. 1950 amnion 1 1 I I f I auomq Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I WILLIAM KNAUER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Y AIR IIiTFLAT'ED BLADDER Application filed April 19,

This invention relates to rubber bladders or the like andmore particularly to an air inflated bladder adapted for use in a ball such as a football, soccer ball, basketball or the like. 7

An object of this invention is to provide a bladder with a valve construction wherein the valve ispositioned inwardly of the bladfall into the casing when it becomes deflated so that it will be an easy matter to reinfiate the bladder. v

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bladder with a removable valve structure so that when the valve becomes worn or unfit for use it may be readily replaced without the necessity of purchasing an entirely new bladder.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be 39 described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same'being illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section partly in detail of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the inflated tube; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding 5 parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1O designates generally a bladder which is constructed of rubber or other resilient or flexible material which is adapted to be mounted in an outer casing of suitable 59 construction such as leather or the like and Another object of this invention is to pro i930 Serial o. 445,735.

which is commonly used in the playing of games of football, volleyball, soccer, or any game where an inflated ball is used. The

bladder 10'isprovided with an inwardly extending neck portion 11 which is vulcanized or otherwise securedas at 12 to the bladder, and a valve member 13 of conventional construction is adapted to be mounted within the bladder 10.- Q

The valve member 13 is provided with an outer shell or casing 14 which is tubular in construction and is preferably formed of rubber or the likeandis adapted to be interposed between the inwardly extending neck 11 and the outer surface of the valve structure 13.

Preferably, the outer end of the valve 13 terminates at a point spaced inwardly from the outer surface of the bladder 10 so that when the bladder 10 is inflated (as with airor the like) the tubular neck member 11 and the tubular shell 14 are subjected to pressure from within so as to firmly grip the valve 13 within the shell member 14, and the valve 13 is also positioned at a point spaced inwardly from the outer surface of the bladder 10 so as to prevent contact from the outside with the metallic valve structure 13.

The tubular shell 14 is preferably open at the opposite ends thereof so as to permit the ingress and egress of air through the shell and likewise,'the tubular shell 14 is provided with an outstanding annular rib 15 adjacent the inner end thereof which is adapted to seat in an annular recess 16 formed in the inner periphery of the neck 11 so that when the tubular member 14 is inserted in the neck 11 it may be positioned thereinto for the desired distance and will not slip into the inr terior of the bladder. The valve covering 14 may also be secured to the valve 13 by other means, as by cementing, vulcanizing or the tended or exposed portion of the shell 14 is adapted to be positioned in an annular recess 18 in a protecting flap 19, and the rib 17 is adapted to be positioned on the outer face of the flap 19 so as to retain the flap upon the tubular member 14.

The flap 19 may be secured in any desired manner to the outer shield or casing of the ball and when the ball becomes deflated, the annular rib 17 will prevent the bladder from dropping into the casing so as to make it necessary to unlace the lacing in the, outer casing.

In balls at present inuse which are provided with an inwardly extending valve structure, the valve is sewed or otherwise secured to the outer casing by stitching and when the stitching becomes worn, thebladder will drop into the casing and it is necessary to unlace the outer casing so as to properly position the valve which in most cases mustagain be sewed-or otherwise secured to the outer casing whereas in the structure herein disclosed the annular rib 17 will prevent the bladder from dropping into the casing when the bladder is deflated so that when it is desired to reinflate the bladder it will not be necessary to relace the outer casing and repair the same whereit has been torn or broken.

' In the use of this device, the tubular member 14 is adapted to extend or project outwardly of the bladder 10 and also extends outwardly of the' flap 19 to'a slight degree so that it will be substantially flush with the outer casing or covering so that when it is desired to reinflate thebladder it is only necessary to place a tubular member connected to a source of air pressure to the outer end of'the tube 14 and the air will pass into the bladderlO through the valve 13.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that a valve structure has been provided wherein the valve is positioned inwardly of the bladder and the outer end of the valve casing is positioned at a point inwardly from the outer surface, of'the bladder or the outer surface of the ball structure so that when 'the bladder is inflated, the pressure within the bladder will tend to constrict the neck 11 and the tubular shell 14 although; it is of course to be understood that this pressure will not be suificient to seal the tube 14 inasmuch as the valve structure 13 will eflectively hold the air under pressure within the bladder 10, but the pressure within the bladder on the tubular shells 11 and 14' or that portion of these members positioned outwardly of the outer end of the valve structure 13 will have a tendency to cushion the valve structure within the bladder and at the same time-prevent any. contact from the exterior with the metallic'valve structure 13'so that witha ball having a bladder constructed according to my invention mounted therein, the ball will not have what, is commonly termed a dead spot or a spot where no resiliency is present as in the structures where the metal valve is substantially flush with the outer ball casing.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with a bladder, an inwardly extending tubular neck secured to said bladder, a metallic valve, and an elongated open ended ribbed tubular member of flexible construction removably interposed between said neck and said valve, said valve being disposed in said member inwardly of the outer surface ofsaid bladder. I

- 2. In combination with a resilient bladder, a resilient tubular neck secured to said bladder and extending inwardly from the outer surface thereof, a'valve positioned in said neck, an elongated'flexible tubular shell removably interposed between said neck and said valve, said valve being disposed in said shell inwardly of the outer surface of the bladder, said tubular shellhaving ribs adj acent each end and extending outwardly of said bladder, and means for removably securing said tubular shellto the outer covering for said bladder. V Y In combination with a resilient bladder, a resilient neck secured to said bladder and extending inwardly thereof, said neckhaving a grooved portion adjacent the inner end, a valve, an elongated flexible tube removably positioned about said valve, said tube having an annular rib adj acent the inner end portion thereof, said annular rib being adapted to seat in said grooved portion of said neck, means for securing said tube to said neck, means for securing said tube to said valve, said tube'having an elongated extension positioned outwardly of the bladder, said outer extension having an annular rib, and an apertured flap positioned about said extension of said tube and adapted to engage against the inner edge of said rib.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

VVILLIAIJ A. KNAUER. 

